Imagine, Explore, Create

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

We always knew it was pretty great around here but the collaborative and flexible culture of the Douglasdale school community is especially evident in every corner of our building these days! This past week we have seen incredible demonstrations of resiliency, perseverance, patience, compassion, cooperation, and fortitude from our students and staff.

As you know, we returned from Family Day long weekend to a flood in our west wing and quickly needed to relocate ten classrooms to other parts of our building. This move saw Kindergarten take over the learning commons, Grade 2 take over the gym, CSSI and SKILL take over the staffroom, green screen room and maker pantry, and Mr. Anderson transform into a traveling musician.

It didn’t take long for everyone to adjust to their new spaces and to be reminded that a change of physical environment can support creativity and innovation and that learning isn’t confined to a classroom.

Our studio artist Jason even dedicated this month's newsletter comic to our 100th day of school "hundred year" flood.

A big thank you to all of our students and staff for making the best of a soggy situation!

Monday, 6 February 2017

Each month our Studio Artist Jason Mathis designs a new comic for our newsletter. Sometimes our students choose the character and create the story, like the Chudu comic made with one of our grade one classes. Sometimes the comic highlights something special that happened at DDS that month.

Starting in February, Jason will be inviting students to create comics about famous Canadian people and events. Watch the #JamWithJason board outside the learning commons as the "Comics For Canada" start to pour in.

Did you know that February marks the 150 day countdown to Canada’s 150th Birthday? 2017 is Canada’s Sesquicentennial and we plan on celebrating! CANADA DAY IN MAY! On May 1st we will celebrate Canada Day in May. Think
Maker May with a Canadian Twist. Get your Canada flags ready!
CANADA MURAL!As we count down to the big day, students will work to gather 150 facts
about our wonderful country. Each morning we will draw a new fact and read it during
morning announcements before affixing it to our CANADA 150 mural in the piazza.CANADIAN MUSIC MONDAYS!Starting on the first Monday in February and
continuing every Monday until the end of the school year, we will play a song by a Canadian artist as students enter the building.COMICS FOR CANADA! In February, the #jamwithjason bulletin board outside
the Learning Commons will be transformed into a “Comics for Canada” board. Students
will be invited to hang up comics that they create about famous Canadian people or
events past and present. Our Studio Artist Jason will also be creating some cool comics for Canada. Watch for them in upcoming newsletters.DDS AMBASSADORS!As one of Mayor Nenshi’s “3 Things for Canada” & “3
Things for Calgary” initiatives, our Eco Team is lining up some awesome DDS Ambassadors to help us tackle the traffic troubles in front of the school during morning drop off.
You will soon see Grade 4 students wearing bright vests and offering to escort younger
students to the back play area between 8:05 and 8:20am. DOUGLASDALE SCHOOL FAMILY SESQUICENTENNIAL EXTRAVAGANZA!
Our “I HEART Canada" Family Dance will be held on February 15th . Families will be invited
to wear red and white, dance the night away in the gym, and participate in
some fun, Canadian themed events including an antique dress up photo booth.If you follow Douglasdale on Twitter @dds346 be sure to look for the hashtags
#ddslovescanada and #jamwithjason
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!!!